DOCTOR'S AIR JOURNEY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1938, Page 3

DOCTOR'S AIR JOURNEY.

TO GREAT BARRIER ISLAND. NEED OF REGULAR SERVICE (By Telegraph —Press Associatin') AUCKLAND, July 11. A trip by air to Great Barrier Island in response to an urgent call for medical aid was made yesterday by a machine from ITobsonvillc Air Base, carrying a resident doctor from the Auckland Public Hospital. Squally weather was encountered on both the outward and return journeys.

A telephone call was received yesterdav morning by Dr. J. W. Craven, medical superintendent at the Auckland Hospital, who arranged for the aeroplane to be sent from Hobsonville. The machine, a Miles Whitney single-engined monoplane, owned by the Public Works Department, was piloted by SquadronLeader E. A." Gibson, engineer in charge of building and aerodrome construction for the Air Department, and with Dr. Bruce W. Grieve, of the resident stall’ of the hospital, on board, it left Hobsonville at 12.30 p.m. Flying up the coast against head winds, the machine took 50 minutes to reach the island, where it landed on the aerodrome which is in the course of construction. The adverse weather made it necessary to return to Auckland along the Coromandel Peninsula coast, adding

about 20 miles to the journey, which was, nevertheless, made in 40 minutes owing to the following winds. The aeroplane landed again at Hobson ville at 3.40 p.m. after being away for a little over three hours. Fn spite of considerable rain at the island, the surface of the aerodrome was in excellent condition and no trouble was experienced either in landing or taking Off. The patient visited by Dr. Grieve was ie two and a-half years old daughter f Mr. ,T. Gates, who is employed by the ’ublic Works Department on the island. Hie is suffering from pneumonia and ras in such a condition that it was bought inadvisable to remove her.